• For bulk purchase of 1btn, white-labelling, and customization of this product, feel free to contact us. We also have the commercial version of this product for sale and licensing.

What is it?

1btn (one button) uses the internet to complete a task with the simple, satisfying click of a single button. It connects to the internet over WiFi to trigger whatever action you have assigned to it using a simple, online interface. One click, one task. It’s that simple.

Unlike many other “Internet of Things” devices, 1btn does not maintain a continuous connection to the internet. Instead, it sleeps until pressed, then it connects to the internet, performs the assigned task, tells you the outcome via its multi-coloured LED, and then returns to rest.

What kinds of tasks can you assign to 1btn?

• Send an email
• Send a text message (SMS)
• Invoke an URL action (custom script, API or IFTTT – maker channel)

We believe that the last one - invoking an URL action (a.k.a., a webhook) - is particularly powerful since it lets you interact with and control any internet-enabled application. Imagine being able to click the 1btn on your way out the door to turn on the heat using the smart thermostat in your workshop.

Why did we create 1btn?

As the Internet of Things has expanded, we’ve noticed an unfortunate trend: the increasing use of smartphones to control IoT applications. We don’t think a smartphone provides the best or simplest UI for this purpose. Think of all the steps you need to take to send a single instruction with a smartphone: find the phone, wake it up or power it up, enter your passcode, swipe and swipe until you find and start up your smart app, select the appropriate control, activate it, and then put the phone back to sleep.

We think there’s a better way, a tried-and-true, more intuitive way, to activate a single task or function, and that’s with a button. Why are buttons such a great idea? A button is the simplest user interface for a single-repetitive-programmable task. They are simple exactly because they are designed for a single-task. More importantly, buttons are easy-to-understand, they are familiar, intuitive, and provide immediate physical feedback when pushed.

What can you do with 1btn?

The uses for 1btn are limited only by your imagination…

Pair it with home automation and smart appliances to:

• Turn on lights or heat before you get home
• Start your coffeemaker from your bedside
• Open or close your garage door
• Lock or unlock doors

Use it to communicate with internet applications to:

• Order pizza, groceries, or anything else
• Call a cab
• Input to a database
• Log start/stop times for billing or work
• Record workout laps or reps

Use it with communication applications to:

• Send an SMS to someone
• Function as a call button for a nurse, server, or help desk
• Send a reminder or confirmation, like when your kids get home from school

More advanced users can use 1btn to:

• Connect to IFTTT using maker channel and access hundreds of “recipes” for communicating with applications and other IoT devices.
• Integrate it with ERP/CRM applications to launch enterprise-specific workflows.
• Set up a webhook and have it perform anything available in an API. 1btn Webhooks are HTTP calls that are sent from the 1btn server to yours upon actuation.

By default, 1btn comes pre-configured for some basic third-party services like email, Twilio SMS, and Twitter. Adding more services is easy. The bottom line is, we can’t possibly imagine all the things you’ll be able to do with 1btn and your creativity!

Advanced Hacking with 1btn

Now that we preached about the simplicity of 1btn – let’s talk about the 1btn’s advanced features. While 1btn is a simple interface, it packs a lot of punch because of its open-source design and the ability for reconfiguration. For example, the open design means you could completely rewrite the 1btn’s firmware. You can even modify the API’s endpoints and re-route them somewhere else.

On the other hand, if you wish to use existing hardware with your own servers – you could redirect button press action to your servers and then invoke a script you’ve written to do the heavy lifting. 1btn gives you access to ReST API calls, so you can fully integrate it into larger systems and configure it programmatically. You can even write code to configure multiple buttons. Imagine being able to bring up an entire application infrastructure with the push of one button, and then launching the application with a second button.

Hacking isn’t limited to programming, either. You can also modify or retrofit the 1btn for use as home automation or monitoring device. For example, the tactile switch of 1btn could be replaced with contact/non-contact sensors and these sensors could trigger an action when the circuit goes open.

How does 1btn work?

Out of the box, 1btn needs to be configured so it can connect to your WiFi network. 1btn creates a WiFi hotspot for this purpose. You connect to this hotspot and provide the credentials of your network.

To configure the 1btn to perform tasks, you’ll need to create an account for access to the web console which is used for configuration. You then register each 1btn with its unique ID (Its MAC address, technically). You can also assign a nickname to each 1btn for easy reference. You can get a sneak peek at the 1btn web console at www.1btn.space. You will need to register in order to access the console.

Once connected and registered, you can select one of the pre-configured actions, such as send an email to the specified address, send a text message to the given number, or post on Twitter using a certain hashtag or you can set up your own web-calls to your application.

Under normal use, the 1btn remains in deep sleep mode until it is pressed. It then wakes, connects to the internet, does the job assigned to it, and tells you the outcome via its multicoloured LED. It then returns to sleep mode. All this happens in about 5-7 seconds.

Read more about 1btn...

• How to hack into 1btn and add reed switch
• Integrating 1btn with IFTTT
• 1btn hardware teardown

FAQ

How do I attach my 1btn to a surface?

You can easily use double-sided adhesive tape so you can stick it to any surface. 1btn can also be effectively used as a coffee table/study table device which you can move around all the time. Depending upon the use, you can mount 1btn or keep it handy.

How long does the battery last and how would I know when to charge it?

Our test results indicate that the battery would last a little over 300 presses. So if you use / press 1btn daily thrice, then the battery would last about 3 months or more. When the battery voltage reaches 3V (full charge would be about 4.28V), 1btn wouldn’t complete the action anymore. If you press it at this time, it will keep blinking red. However, fear not, as soon as the battery voltage starts going below 3.2V, you to will start getting email alerts at every press/usage.

How many tasks can I assign to one 1btn?

Normally 1 per 1btn. And we also provide time-based trigger feature which allows you to assign multiple actions to the same 1btn, and one or the other will be activated based on the time of day.

Can 1btn do more than one action at a time?

At the moment, no. At least not directly - this feature is on our to-do list, though. However, the webhook action effectively allows you to do this. For instance, a 1btn press can invoke your remote server script which, in turn, would do 2 or 20 or 200 things all-together.

What is the range of operation?

The typical range is up to 50 meters, just like any other WiFi based device. If you have a strong WiFi router, the range can be greater.

IMPORTANT

This device/board/kit is intended for use for FURTHER ENGINEERING, DEVELOPMENT, PROTOTYPING, DEMONSTRATION, AND/OR EVALUATION PURPOSES ONLY. It is not a finished product, and may not (yet) comply with some or any technical or legal requirements that are applicable to finished products, including, without limitation, directives regarding electromagnetic compatibility, recycling (WEEE), FCC, CE, or UL (except as may be otherwise noted on the device/board/kit). Please check with us for more information if you intend to use it for the purpose other than stated above. KNEWRON supplies these products “AS IS,” with limited warranties, at the buyer’s and further users’ sole risk. The user assumes all responsibility and liability for the proper and safe handling of the goods. Further, the user indemnifies KNEWRON from all claims arising from the handling or use of the goods. Due to the open construction of the product, it is the user’s responsibility to take any and all appropriate precautions with regard to electrostatic discharge and any other technical or legal concerns. EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT OF THE INDEMNITY SET FORTH ABOVE, NEITHER USER NOR KNEWRON SHALL BE LIABLE TO EACH OTHER FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES. No license is granted under any patent right or other intellectual property rights of KNEWRON covering or relating to any machine, process, or combination in which such KNEWRON products or services might be or are used.

All goods are checked before they are sent out. In the unlikely event that goods are faulty, they must be returned to the address listed on your order invoice. We will not accept goods that have clearly been used more than the amount needed to evaluate their functionality. If the goods are found to be in working condition, and the lack of functionality is a result of lack of knowledge or assembly error on the customers part, no refund will be made, but the goods will be returned to the user at their expense.